Frigerator Follies

“Frigerator Follies”
University of Cincinnati / DAAP
Cincinnati, OH | 2013

About the Show

During the Spring Semester 2013, five Whoop Dee Doo artists taught a special problems elective at the University of Cincinnati, DAAP.  In the course, eleven students worked alongside Whoop Dee Doo artists to design and construct a stage set and large scale installation within the University’s Eisenmann Lecture Hall, a four hundred seat auditorium with stadium seating. Additionally, these students thoroughly researched their community, presenting images and information on over 75 performers and performance groups from the Cincinnati community. We contacted and discussed the project with dozens of Cincinnati performers, and landed on our perfect match: Los Embajadores Peruanos. These Peruvian folkloric dancers were willing to take on a full collaboration, allowing twenty artists to re-construct their entire appearance and performance.

In part two of our project, Whoop Dee Doo artists, Los Embajadores Peruanas, and a select group of college students worked to create a unique workshop series for four high school students from Cincinnati’s Lighthouse Youth Program. The dancers were invited into the classroom to teach the students about the history and culture of their costuming and dance.  The dancers then generously worked with the students to create an entirely new version of the Tuntuna, a dance from the Aymara culture with strong African roots.  The high school students worked to redesign the costumes, choreography, and to create a short narrative within the interactive set created by the students at the University of Cincinnati.

The final performance was a six minute piece performed six times at the University, an event that generated an overwhelming response and sold-out shows.

For the spring semester at the UC DAAP Program, twelve students have been working alongside members of Whoop Dee Doo, a non-profit community arts organization that travels nationally to create variety shows, workshops, installations and other projects with youth groups and community members. In PHASE ONE of this project, these students researched, sourced materials, and co-designed a large-scale live action landscape installation and set design for the performance in the UC Lecture Hall. In PHASE TWO, the students thoroughly researched their community, presenting images and information on over 75 performers and performance groups from the Cincinnati community. We contacted and discussed the project with dozens of Cincinnati performers, and landed on our perfect match: Los Embajadores Peruanos. These Peruvian folkloric dancers were willing to take on a full collaboration, allowing twenty artists to re-construct their entire appearance and performance. PHASE THREE involved pairing up with amazing high school students from the Lighthouse Youth Program including Ziala Danner, Jayvon Lackey, Mykeesia McCoy and Courtney Jackson. These students took on creative roles to collaborate with Whoop Dee Doo, UC students, and Los Embajadores Peruanos and made important and meaningful decisions for the outcome of the project. They practiced the important roles of stage direction, set and costume design, and the functions of moving sets and props. Lastly, PHASE FOUR focused on our collaboration with Los Embajadores Peruanos. We learned about the history and culture of their costuming and dance, more specifically about the TUNTUNA, a dance from the Aymara Culture with strong African roots. The dancers generously worked with us to create a new performance. All of these elements were thoughtfully tied into the theme of the installation. Our Lighthouse Youth students worked alongside college artists to sketch, design and create their final pieces. We are honored to present to you our final piece, only possible with the great efforts of our large and extremely talented crew. ENJOY THE SHOW UC 3D Studio Elective Students: Katrina Rattermann Christina Coobatis Jackie Braden Amanda Checco Jean Keuffer Samantha Dorgan Samantha Vance Sayoko Osada Sean Sandusky Lindsey Sahlin Jaimi Ryan Lauren Kline Lighthouse Youth: Creative Direction: Jayvon Lackey Costume Design: Mykeesia McCoy & Ziala Danner Stage/Set Design: Courtney Jackson Special Thanks to Tiana Johnson Los Embajadores Peruanos: Marisol Perez Karla Mcdaniel Raquel Landeo Paul Carhuatanta Karina Carhuatanta Whoop Dee Doo 3D Studio Faculty: Erin Zona, Matt Roche, Jaimie Warren Whoop Dee Doo artist: Lee Heinemann Whoop Dee Doo Education & Programming: Michael O’Malley

Whoop Dee Doo Artists

Michael O’Malley
Lee Heinemann
Jaimie Warren
Erin Zona
Matt Roche

Performers

Los Embajadores Peruanos
Marisol Perez
Karla Mcdaniel
Raquel Landeo
Paul Carhuatanta
Karina Carhuatanta

Student Artists

Ziala Danner
Courtney Jackson
Jayvon Lackey
Mykeesia McCoy

Curation

DAAP Program at UC

Youth Group

Lighthouse Youth

Youth Group leader

Tiana Johnson

UC 3D Studio Elective Students

Katrina Rattermann
Christina Coobatis
Jackie Braden
Amanda Checco
Jean Keuffer
Samantha Dorgan
Samantha Vance
Sayoko Osada
Sean Sandusky
Lindsey Sahlin
Jaimi Ryan
Lauren Kline